[Tim_4]

Hey all…

A little bit about me, I graduated in 2011 and since then I’ve picked up two years of work experience, earned my master’s degree at night, and passed the CPA exam (currently licensed). I went to a top-notch university and many of my friends are getting promoted at their jobs, but my company (a Fortune 100 mega firm with 100,000+ employees) is in big time cost-cutting mode so there have been virtually no promotions in my department in the two years I’ve been there. I’m starting to see the writing on the wall and feel that I’ll be ready for a promotion long before they’ll be ready to offer one. I make a good salary but I don’t want my career to stagnate before it even gets started.

For this and other reasons, including family, I’m looking to move about 1,000 miles halfway across the country. I’m thinking of using a recruiter like Robert Half to facilitate my job search since I’m not especially familiar with the area to which I’m hoping to move and my school’s alumni presence in the state is fairly weak. Has anyone else had success working with Robert Half in the past? I know I’ve read some brutal online reviews but I’m not sure how reliable those are. I’m especially interested if anyone has used a recruiter not just to find a job, but to find a job in another part of the country.

[number_cruncher_24]

I used a recruiter from a small recruiting firm to find an accounting job when I moved to a new city and I had a great experience. They did all the work for me and I just showed up at the interview. I got an offer a few days later.

[Mayo]

I've heard both good and bad things about all different types of recruiting firms. However, I'd say each individual recruiter can be very different from one to the next.

Personally, I have a recruiter I stay in touch every few months, but I haven't left the firm I started at.

However, others have said good things about Robert Half, and it's nice that they list the salary on their job postings (most of the time). But the other firms can be just as effective at finding you a good job. It's just a matter of finding a recruiter who is less full of crap than the others.

I also wouldn't worry too much about having to find a job in another city. If you're a good fit, the recruiter will try and get you that position regardless of where you're coming from.

I'd recommend doing a search for recruiting firms in the city you're looking to move to. Just google “city name + accounting + recruiting” and you'll be surprised what you'll find.

Just be wary of the line of crap recruiters will feed you. There's the good ‘ol, “Even though this is a staff position, it has tremendous growth opportunities, etc. etc.”. It might be true, but make sure to do your due diligence on the firm, and ask questions in your interview about what kind of progression is expected from someone in your position.

Also, if the recruiter has a linkedin account, friend them (trust me they won't mind. They're linkedin hoes), and check out their posting history.

There's a recruiter on my linkedin that always has the same tagline for every single accounting position “I have an internal audit/financial analyst/staff accountant position. Great firm culture and opportunity for growth!” That kind of blasting just turns me off and lets me know he doesn't know how to do his job.

Also, if he/she mentions they've placed other candidates in the same company that can be a good sign the firm is looking to grow. Or it can also mean they have horrible turnover and can't keep anyone. Ask the recruiter if one of these former clients would be willing to talk to you on the phone and give you their impression of the job and the company. If they say yes, it's also a good sign. If they think the recruiter screwed them, doing them a favor is the last thing they'd do.

Like I said, my interaction with recruiters is limited, and it's mostly based on what I've seen and heard others talk about. But I hope that helps a bit.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

Not a fan of Robert Half. I had a bad experience.

I went in for an interview with the recruiter, then only ever heard back from him once (without initiating correspondence, of course) after that.

Luckily, I got in with a public firm on my own.

[Tim_4]

Luckily I'm in a good position. I do enjoy my company, it's just that the pace of advancement isn't what I'm looking for. I'm comfortable sitting back and only applying to jobs that would be a step up from where I am now. I think I might just sit tight and pick and choose a few to apply for, then if I started getting really desperate/anxious to move, I'd turn it up a notch and use a recruiter.

[uglyowl]

Why not contact Robert Half, can't hurt, you are not obligated to anything and worse case you brush up a little on your interviewing skills.

BEC : 07/28/2012 (89)
FAR : 10/29/2012 (86)
AUD : February 2013 (80)
REG : 05/22/2013 (80)

[Tim_4]

Care to elaborate?

[Nelsonx5]

I got my first accounting job through Robert Half. I had a good experience with them. This was when I first got my associates in accounting though. Not sure about how the job postings would differ for a CPA position. I thought my pay was a little on the low side, but it may also have had something to do with having no experience at that point.

[Mayo]

“I got my first accounting job through Robert Half. I had a good experience with them”

“Robert Half is the BIGGEST SCAM EVER.. stay away”

“Not a fan of Robert Half. I had a bad experience”

Like I said, a lot of times experience with recruiters is less about the firm, and more about the individual recruiter.

Just speculating, but I would also assume that the better a candidate is (type of experience, CPA or not, prestige of firm/position) the better the recruiter will treat him/her. Once a recruiter has decided someone isn't worth their time or effort, they start flaking out.

Obviously, I don't condone the behavior and I find it unprofessional. However, I think it's something to keep in mind when using recruiters. Some are snakes in the grass, and others will be straight forward with you. Just make sure to shop around until you find one you feel is the latter.

No reason to just stick to one firm, no matter what they say.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[mla1169]

my .02 is that it can't HURT to give them your info, but make sure you're putting out other feelers too and not relying on them alone.

And I've had nothing but BAD experiences with a recruiting firm called KForce. I gave them the benefit of the doubt because as Mayo said above, often you're dealing with a good or bad recruiter that isn't necessarily indicative of the firm itself. Over the last 10 years, I've given KForce the benefit of the doubt four times and given them my info. I've come away with the feeling that their recruiters are pretty boy marketing majors (nothing against marketing majors, they're great, but not necessarily qualified to do Accounting recruiting) who would either be doing this or selling knives door to door.

In fact I just received a letter from the recruiter at KForce I dealt with most recently explaining to me that he had searched for me on LinkedIn and noticed I don't have an account, he goes on to explain how important networking is, yadda yadda.

I have a linkedin. Have for almost 5 years. There is NO WAY he looked and didn't find me.

So I sent him an email directing him to destroy my contact information and never contact me again. I need to deal with people with a minimum level of competence. Knowing how to use linkedin before instructing me on it is a minimum level of competence.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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